Archive for the ‘Knitting’ Category

On to the Next Pair

July 9, 2010

This pattern is Tatami from Knitted Socks East and West using Panda Cotton in Telips.  The picture doesn’t show the pretty colors very well.   I’ll try to do better next time.  I could not get gauge so I  just changed the number of stitches and went on.  As of this morning, I have finished the heel and about one inch into the foot.  Now, I’m hoping that I have enough yarn.  I probably should have started at the toes.   I must have some excitement in my life.  When these are finished, I’ll have made nine pairs of socks this year with only three pair to go.

Finished Entrelac Socks

July 8, 2010

How do they look against my entrelac blanket?

All is Forgiven

July 6, 2010

This morning, she talked to Skunky and carried him around the house.  When it was time for ‘cafe au lait’ (minus the cafe), she brought him in to have some.

I have got about six rows of squares to go on the second sock.  I want to go on t o something else.  It’s too hot to do anything big, so I’m thinking gloves.

Yesterday

July 3, 2010

I went out “yarn hopping” with some friends and didn’t get home until evening.  I bought some Claudia fingering in watermelon.  It should make pretty socks.  Or gloves.  Or hat.  I don’t know.  It was pretty.  I need yarn like a hole in my head.  But, it’s not my fault.  My friends made me do it.

Fun Afternoon

June 30, 2010

Maria called me last night in need of knitting help.  It took a while for me to figure out what her problem was, then she couldn’t figure out what I was saying.  It was decided that she had better come up.  So, around 2:30 she showed up with Leslie.  It didn’t take long to fix her knitting.  I hope she remembers what I did.  Since they were here, I dragged out all the yarn and needles that I didn’t want.  They took about two-thirds of it.  Maria suggested keeping the rest for newbies that come to knitting group to help get them started.  I made blueberry almond coffee cake and iced tea.  We had a pleasant afternoon discussing patterns, needles, and yarn.

Been Busy

June 28, 2010

It’s been too hot to do much of anything outside this weekend.  We took Gus for his walk first thing in the morning and spent the rest of the day inside working in the yarn room.  I looked into every bag and box.  Now, I’ve got two more bags to give to Goodwill and five for  my friends if they want any of it.  I still have more than I’ll use in my lifetime, but it’s too nice to give away.  I may put some of it on Ravelry, but I’m not ready for that decision.  Maybe after the room is finished.

Flo was not helpful.  As a matter of fact, she said we were bothering her.

I have finished one sock.  It’s been fun.  I changed a couple of things including making a shorter leg. 

February Lady Sweater is Finished

June 25, 2010

I took several shots of the sweater, but I didn’t like any of them.  I probably should have used my good camera.  No.  I should have gotten Doug to model it for me.  He is good at that.  Too bad, he’s a lousy cameraman.

We went to Dover yesterday.  It was time for my biannual hip appointment.  Everything is still where it is supposed to be and there is no deterioration.  Maybe I’ll have this one for the rest of my life.  I’ll tell you one thing.  I’d fo it again.  It really works.

Afterwards, we went to Joann’s.  I found some flannel backed vinyl for deck chair covers that I liked.  I bought another ruler for quilting.  You can never have enough of those.  And I got a plastic case for my big RA embroidery spools.  I made sure it was big enough by going over to the Viking center and trying it out with a spool from their display.  Sadly, I didn’t get any from Viking.  This one has so much less than what I am used to. 

Our next stop was Target.  What a weird parking arrangement that one has.  But, they had the wire storage blocks that we wanted.  We bought two sets and Doug put them together when we got home.   Then he carried the stuff from the other bins and put them in the new ones.  Once the old one was emptied, he rearranged it to fit on the new one.   I went through a lot of my yarn and I have four bags so far that I don’t want.  I also found a purple wrap I designed and made that I have never worn so that goes too.

Moving Stuff

June 23, 2010

Frank is coming sometime between the next week and the next month to move some walls.  So we have to move stuff.  Arg.  I need to move my fabric shelves into my yarn room.  I started clearing a wall for it so I dragged bags and boxes into our bedroom and dumped them on the bed.  I started bags for Goodwill, trash, and of coures, knitting group.  Doug was a good gopher and a lot of help.  We really got a lot accomplished.  I even have a nice poncho and scarf that I had made for a designer and some extra matching yarn.  I only wore it a couple of times.  It’s pink and gray–not to my liking.  As a matter of fact, I have several skeins from that person that I’m getting rid of.  After some thought, we decided to buy some more shelves to put in the yarn room.  That way we can remove the fabric from one shelf and take it directly to the other shelf.  You can never have enough shelves.  I hate the thought of all the mess, but we need to make this house more useful to us.  When everything is finished we will have two nice-sized bedrooms, each with it’s own nice bathroom and I’ll have all my own sewing/knitting room.  Yeah!

Knitting Backwards

June 20, 2010

Some call it “knitting back backwards”, but that’s more than I can stand.  If you like entrelac and/or hate to purl, it’s a great skill to know.  How do you do it?   Oh, man!  How do I explain it?  Hold your yarn in your right hand and knit a few stitches.  Closely watch what you are doing.  Now, try to knit in the opposite direction, from left to right, creating the exact same appearance.  This is how I taught myself to do it.  It took a while and a lot of patience, but that’s what I did.  This is not left hand knitting.  Those stitches turn the other way and you want your to be the same whether you are going to from right to left or left to right.  Keep at it untill all your stitches look the same. 

 Pretty soon, you’ll be turning out entrelac sweaters, scarves, hats and even socks.  I’ve been thinking about entrelac gloves.  But I still want to start with a ribbed wristband.  Here is some inspiration.

Fun Socks

June 16, 2010

I love entrelac and when I saw the ones in Think Outside the Socks,  knew I had to make them.  I am using Carnival from Sockotta which may be why the stitches are a little crappy.  I am not making them as long as the pattern.  These are summer socks and are not for warmth.  People are supposed to say, “Oh, what cute socks” and look at me kind of funny.   Don’t worry.  I’m used to it.  But, I bet my feet are prettier than theirs. 

My enterlac has been looking pretty ratty lately.  I think it’s nearly twenty years old, so it’s time for a new one.  I was thinking about using the  Colinette that’s in the next drawer so I was looking around for a pattern or inspiration.  Well, I discovered that two books on entrelac are coming out in the Fall.  So, I’ll wait and see if they are any good.  In the meantime, I’ll use the Colinette for a striped V-neck pullover which was my original intent.  It will probably be a side to side because it’s easier to size as you go along.

I was surprised to see these this Iris growing out of the side of the old pier.  I’m so glad I had my camera.